Liquid distributor for dishwashing machines



Dec. 24, 1963 R. G. GRAHAM 3,115,306

LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N (0 -o I; II N\ m v f I.

on o m I II II II INVENTOR. 164m 6. 624mm Dec. 24, 1963 R. e. GRAHAM LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR FOR DISK- WASHING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1962 INVENTOR. 18411 6. 6241/4! ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1963 R. G. GRAHAM LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 7, 1962 INVENTOR 1641p & deal/AM BY WWW M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,115,306 LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR FUR DISHWASHING MACHINES Ralph G. Graham, Little Rock, Aria, assignor to Lewis A. lames, Independence, Kans. Filed Nov. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 235,942 4 Claims. (til. 239-243) This invention relates to dishwashing machines, and more particularly to liquid spraying or distributing apparatus for directing streams of liquid onto dishes for washing and rinsing same.

The present invention particularly relates to liquid distributing apparatus adapted for use .in dishwashing machines such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,992,779 issued July 18, 1961, and constitutes an improvement over the liquid distributing apparatus and the sequence controlling mechanism disclosed therein. The improvement is particularly adapted for a dishwashing machine in which liquid under pressure is forced successively and automatically in several streams to spray the liquid onto dishes racked in diiferent areas in the washing compartment of the machine wherein a plurality of spray jets or outlets are spaced along a movable member that is actuated or rotated so a stream of liquid from one part of said movable member will pass through an area of the washing compartment and then another stream of liquid from another point of said movable member will pass through another area of the washing compartment. ;In such apparatus, it is preferred that the arrangement of the sprays on the movable member be such that the sprays are actuated in sequence and collectively said sprays cover all of the dish-containing area of the washing compartment. It is also preferred that water from a hot water source be applied to the dishes for both washing and rinsing without recirculation or reapplication.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide .a liquid distributor having a movable member with a plurality of sprays therefrom each passing through different areas of the washing compartment of a dishwasher with cooperative members controlling the communicating connection of the spray members to a fluid source with a positive drive for effecting relative movement of said cooperative members in response to movement of said movable member to govern the sequence of actuation of the sprays; to provide such a structure wherein the movable member is rotatable and has a plurality ofliquid passages to spray members spaced longitudinal- .ly of the axis of rotation and a plate member having a port registrable with the respective passages in sequence with a gear and pinion operatively connecting the movable member and plate member for relative movement thereof in changing the communication of the port from one passage to another; to provide such a structure Where- .in a pinion is ope-ratively connected to the movable member and is cooperative with a track and gear segment for simultaneous rotative movement of the plate and movable member through predetermined degrees of rotation and then relative movement to move the registry of the port in the plate from one passage to another during the remaining portion of a complete revolution; to provide such a structure with a valve plate controlling commuice nicatio-n of a liquid source with a port in the plate in the rotation of the movable member and plate and thereby the duration of the actuation of each spray during each revolution of the movable member; and to provide a dishwashing machine and spray apparatus that is economical to manufacture and that provides an intermittent application of sprays to dishes in various portions of the washing compartment with positive control of actuation duration and sequence of liquid spray from the spray members.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a dishwasher assembly having a liquid distributor embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the liquid distributing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the spray apparatus taken on the line 33, FIG. 2, and illustrating the sequence and spray duration control apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the spray apparatus taken on the line 4-4, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional View through the spray apparatus similar to FIG. 3 showing the pinion and gear connections during movement of the plate to change the spray from one passage to another.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the gear and pinion structure for moving the plate relative to the movable spray member.

FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view through the gear and pinion structure taken on the line 77, FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through a portion of the spray apparatus taken on the line 88, FIG. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

'1 designates a dishwashing machine having a housing 2 with a washing compartment 3 therein with a wall 4 at one end and a door closure 5 adapted to close the other end of the compartment. The washing compartment has a bottom wall 6 preferably suitably inclined for flow of liquids to a drain 7 having suitable connection with a disposal such as a sewer or the like. Fllhe drain 7 is preferably open at all times whereby any liquids collecting on the bottom wall will flow out the drain. The housing 2 is of such structure as to provide a washing compartment with watertight joints and of desired shape and size for convenient arrangement of dishes to be washed therein. Also, suitable seals 8 are arranged around the end closed by the door 5 and adapted to be engaged thereby, in a suitable manner to prevent leakage of liquid thereby.

A spray apparatus 9 is mounted in the washing compartment 3 for directing sprays or streams of washing liquid and/ or water against dishes 10 supported by suitable racks '11 and 12 in the washing compartment. The spray apparatus may be arranged in the washing compartment in various positions depending upon the size and space and the arrangement of dishes permitted thereby. in the illustrated structure, the spray apparatus has a rotor or movable member 13 which extends longitudinally of 3 the washing compartment with a rack 11 arranged for positioning dishes to one side thereof and the rack 12 arranged for positioning dishes thereabove whereby sprays of liquid from the rotor will be directed onto the dishes in the racks.

The spraying apparatus 9 includes a housing 14 having a lower detergent-containing compartment 15 and an upper flow or manifold compartment 16. The compartmerits 15 and 16 are separated by a wall 17, and said housing is preferably positioned in upwardly spaced relation from the bottom wall 6 adjacent to but inside the washing compartment relative to the door 5. For facilitating maintenmce and access to the compartments, the housing 14 is made in two sections whereby the forward wall 18 is separate and forms a cover secured to the main body 19 of the housing by suitable fastening devices such as screws 20 with suitable gaskets 21 between the sections and around the screws to form a watertight seal for the compartment. The forward wall 18 has a forwardly extending portion 22 in the lower part thereof to provide increased capacity for the lower compartment 15. The extension 22 has an upper wall 23 preferably provided with a threaded opening 24 into which is screwed a bushing 25 with a seat 26 on the lower end thereof in the compartment 15. A valve member 27 is movable in a bore 28 in the bushing and has a surface 2? adapted to engage the seat 26 to form a seal in response to spring pressure of a spring 34 sleeved on a tubular shank 31 with ends engaging the bushing and a head 32 on said tubular shank.- The tubular shank has an axial bore 33 extending from the outer end and terminating as at 34 in spaced relation to the inner end and having a lateral bore 35 which will communicate with the compartment 15 when the tubular member is presesd inwardly. This forms an inlet for detergent to be introduced into the compartment 15, as by means of a spout type can, the spout being inserted into the bore 33 and pressure applied to compress the spring 34} to move the valve member inwardly until the opening 35 communicatw with the compartment to till the compartment with liquid detergent. After filling the compartment, the pressure on the valve member is released whereby it returns to seated position to seal the compartment as illustrated in FIG. 2.

A supply pipe 36 connected to a suitable source of hot water, as for example the usual hot water pipes in a residence, whereby hot water under normal city water pressure is supplied thereto, is connected to a valve 37 of an electrical or solenoid type with the output side of the valve connected to a pipe 38 that extends through the washing compartment and is connected to the housing 14 in communication with a bore 39 that extends through a rib or boss 40 in the compartment 15, said bore 3? communieating with the compartment 16 whereby the water from the pipe 38 is discharged into said manifold or compartment 16. The valve 37 is preferably 'of any conventional type which when energized will open for flow of hot water from the line 36 through the pipe 38 and when de-energized said valve is closed to cut off flow of water to the machine.

The boss or portion 40 in the body of the housing 14 has laterally extending small apertures 41 communicating the bore 39 with the compartment 15 whereby when hot water from the pipe 38 flows through the bore 39 some may escape into the detergent compartment and the flow of the water causes the detergent to be drawn from the compartment 15 into the bore 39 to flow with the water into the compartment 16 until the detergent supply is exhausted.

The body 19 of the housing 14 at the rear of the manifold compartment 16 has a bearing opening 42 rotatably mounting a head 43 of the rotor or movable member 13, said head having an annular outwardly extending flange 44 with a rear surface 45 having bearing engagement with a surface 46 of the body 19 whereby pressure on the flanged end of the head forces same against the surface 46 to effect a bearing contact that tends to reduce flow of liquid between said engaged faces. The body portion also preferably has a suitable gasket or seal member such as an O-ring 47 positioned in a groove 48 and having circumferential sealing engagement with a cylindrical surface 49 of the portion of the head in the bearing opening in said body to errect a seal and prevent leakage of water through the bearing opening around the head. The rotor "13 has a plurality of distributor ducts 5t), 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 extending longitudinally thereof in radially spaced relation to the axis of rotation and equally spaced circumferentially, each having an open end at the head communicating with the manifold compartment 16. In the structure illustrated, the rotor includes a shaft 56 having one end fixed in a bore 57 in the head 43 and the other end fixed as by a key 53 in an end member 59 in which the ends 6%) of the respective ducts are also secured, said end member 59 having a socket 61 adapted to receive a driving member of a motor 62 mounted on the end wall 4 exteriorly of the washing compartment whereby energization of the electric motor rotates the rotor 13 about the axis of the shaft 56. The end member 59 forms a closure for the respective adjacent ends of the ducts 50 to 55 inclusive to close the how passages in said ducts. in the structure illustrated, the ends 63 of the ducts are fixed in the head with the flow passages in the respective ducts communicating with bores 64 that open from the forward surfaces 65 of the head 43 and serve as respective duct openings. The ducts 5@ to 55 inclusive preferably each have the same number of spray outlets or jet apertures 66 and 57, said apertures being equally spaced in the respec tive ducts. Also, the spacing between the group of jet apertures in one duct is perferably equal to the adjacent group in another duct whereby the jet apertures are equally spaced along the length of the rotor 13, and it is preferred that the jet apertures be such that liquid under pressure forced through same forms a fan-like spray substantially in a plane extending through the aperture and the axis of the shaft 56 whereby the sprays from all the jet apertures combined will direct streams of washing liquid into all of the dish-containing areas of the washing compartment 3 as the rotor 13 is rotated.

In the illustrated structure, the delivery of washing liquid to said ducts is in a sequence whereby the sprays from one duct are moved in a path transversely of the washing compartment, and then the sprays from another duct are moved in their paths transversely of the washing compartment whereby each of the sprays from the respective ducts in the completion of a cycle from all of the ducts will have covered all the dishes in the washing compartment, but only a limited number of sprays are activated at a time, providing a lower volume of water requirements and higher pressure jet streams with a soaking period of wetted dishes during the period in which other sprays are activated. The sequence control includes a valve member or disc 63 rotatably mounted on an end of the shaft 56 with the rear face 69 of said valve member engaging the forward face 65 of the head 43.

A closure or valve plate 70 is also mounted on the end of the shaft 56 in the compartment 16 in face to face engagement with the outer face 71 of the valve member or disc 68, said valve plate being fixed relative to the housing to prevent rotation by means of a suitable retainer, as for example a screw 72 having an end 73 extending into an aperture 74 in said plate. The valve member or disc as may have one or more ports 75 extending therethrough registrable with the bores 64 for communication with the respective ducts. It is preferred that the number of ducts be a multiple of the number of ports 75 in the valve member. In the illustrated structure, there are two ports in the valve member. The valve plate 7% has a depending portion effecting closure of the ports 75 as they pass thereunder with the shape of the upper edge 76 of said valve plate determining the arc or angle of rotation through which the ports are opened for flow of water from the compartment 16 to the respective ducts, and thereby the angle through which the sprays are activated. :The pressure of the washing liquid in the compartment 16 holds the plate 70 against the surface of the valve member 68 and the valve member against the forward face of the head whereby the flow of the liquid from the compartment is through the open ports 75 and the flow passages of the respective ducts in communication therewith.

The valve member is moved or rotated relative to the rotor 13 at the end of each revolution to move the registry of a port 75 from one duct to another. It is desired that this movement be positive so as to assure registry of the port with the duct and, in the structure illustrated, the valve member 68 is suitably connected with a gear, as for example by having gear teeth 77 around the periphery thereof meshing with teeth 78 of a pinion gear 79 that has a shank 8t rotatably mounted in a bearing opening 81 in the flange 4-4 of the head 43. A ring member 82 is fixed in the housing 14 in surrounding relation to the valve plate member 68 and the pinion gear 79. The ring member has an inwardly extending track 83 which is engaged by a surface 84- of the pinion gear at the forward portion thereof from which the teeth 78 are removed whereby the engagement of the surface 84 with the track 83 prevents rotation of the pinion as it is moved in an orbital path by the head 43, whereby retaining the valve member 68 against rotation relative to said head 43 for the portion of the revolution through which the track '83 extends. The track 33 is cut away as at 85 and the inner surface of the ring portion rearwardly of the track has gear teeth 86 adapted to be engaged by the teeth 78 of the pinion 79 as the orbital movement of the pinion moves the surface 84 past the end of the track whereby the pinion can rotate as it orbits for the extent of the cut-out portion '85 of the track. Engagement of the teeth of the pinion 79 with the teeth 86 effects relative rotative movement of the valve member 68 and the head 43 to move the port 75 out of registry with the communication to one of the ducts and into registry with another duct, the extent of the cut-out portion 85 of the track and the gear teeth 86 being such that the rotation of the pinion will move the valve member to provide an accurate registry of the ports 75 therein with the next duct in the sequence and, also, at the end of the rotation of the pinion in effecting such movement the surface 84 thereof will be in position to slidably engage on the track 33 to again hold the valve member against relative rotation with the head and thereby it maintains registry of the ports 75 with said next duct in the sequence for providing liquid jets from the apertures in said duct from substantially a revolution of the rotor 13, the advancing movement of the valve member 68 occurring at the end of each revolution to effect registry of the ports 75 with another of the ducts to again start the cycle. The shape of the upper edge 76 of the valve plate 70 may be varied to vary the arc through which the sprays from the respective ducts are activated and, in the structure illustrated, the arc is through approximately 190 degrees.

A control box 87 has a conventional switch connected with a suitable source of electric current, together with a conventional timer, whereby when the switch is energized or closes, it remains closed for a predetermined period of time, for example five minutes, during which period of time a circuit is completed through an electrical conductor 83 to the electrical valve 37 and motor 62 whereby the valve 37 is maintained open for a predetermined time and the motor 62 will operate to rotate the rotor 13.

In operating a dishwasher constructed and assembled as illustrated and described, dishes are loaded into the racks and move into the washing compartment 3. A suitable quantity of detergent is then introduced'into the detergent compartment 15, the valve member 27 automatically closing after pressure from the outside is removed therefrom. The door 5 is closed, but the drain 7 remains open at all times. Then the switch in the control box '87 is actuated to set the timer and close the electrical circuit to the valve 37 and motor 62 energizing same whereby the motor starts rotating the rotor 13 and the valve 67 opens the water flow line whereby the hot water from said line 36 flows through the pipe 38 into the housing 14. The detergent from the detergent compartment is entrained into the flow of water as said water flows through the bore 39 whereby a mixture of water and detergent enters the compartment or manifold 16 and flows through any exposed port 75 into the respective ducts registering therewith whereby streams of washing liquid are discharged from the jet apertures 66 and 67 of the respective duct in fan-shaped high pressure sprays directed radially upwardly through the angle of travel or rotation of the rotor during-the period when the port 75 is exposed or not covered by the valve plate 7%). Rotation of the rotor moves the pinion gear 7f in an orbital path and, While the surface 84 is engaged with the track 83, the pinion gear is held against rotation about its axis, thereby holding the valve member and head 43 against relative rotation, thereby maintaining the port 75 in registry with the same duct.

.Near the completion of the rotation, the surface 84 of the pinion gear passes off of the track 83 and the teeth of the pinion engage the gear teeth S6, effecting rotation of the pinion on the head 43 as said head is rotated, and this relative rotation of the pinion gear efiects rotation of the valve member 68 relative to thehead 43 to advance the port 75 into registry with the next duct, and after such advancing movement the surface 84 again engages the track 83 to maintain the registry for substantially another revolution during which the spray is from the duct that is then in registry with the port 75. At the end of each revolution, the same advancing movement of the valve member 68 is effected by the pinion gear 79 and teeth '86 whereby the sprays are from the ducts in sequence, the arrangement providing a positive advancing of the ports 75 into registry with the ducts in sequence, assuring registry and proper flow through the ducts and sprays thereof. When the detergent is exhausted from the compartment 15, only hot water is applied through the sprays to the dishes to thoroughly wash same and then thoroughly rinse the dishes. While the water may' be recirculated over the dishes by a pump, it is preferred that all of the water sprayed into the washing compartment run to the bottom and drain through the drain 7, providing a continuous flow whereby any dirt or food washed from the dishes is carried by the water to the drain and is not reapplied to the dishes. It is believed obvious that I have provided a positive action in a spray control for sequence spraying of washing liquid onto dishes to assure accurate registry and thereby uniform sprays as the rotor is rotated.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not-to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spray apparatus for dishwashing machines comprising,

(a) a housing having a chamber therein adapted to be connected to a source for supplying washing liquid under pressure thereto,

(b) an elongate rotor having one end in said chamber with the other end extending from said housing,

(c) a plurality of distributor ducts in said rotor extending longitudinally thereof, said distributor ducts being spaced circumferentially in the rotor and each having an opening communicating with the chamber,

(!) means operatively connected to the rotor for rotating same on its longitudinal axis,

(e) a valve member in said chamber and axially rotatable relative to said rotor and operative to close the duct openings, said valve member having at least one through port registrable with the respective duct opening for flow of liquid from the chamber to the respective duct,

(1) a ring gear connected to said valve member and rotating therewith,

(g) a pinion gear rotatably mounted on said rotor and meshing with said ring gear,

(11) means on the housing engaged with said pinion gear during one portion of the rotation of the rotor to hold said pinion gear against relative rotative movement on said rotor and thereby retain the valve member against rotation relative to said rotor,

(i) and a gear segment on said housing and meshing with said pinion gear as said pinion gear moves thereby during another portion of the rotation of the rotor to effect relative rotative movement of the pinion gear on the rotor and thereby relative rotation of the valve member and said rotor to advance the port in the valve member from registry with one duct to registry with another.

2. A spray apparatus for dishwashing machines comprising,

(a) a housing having a flow chamber therein adapted to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure for delivery of liquid thereto,

(b) an elongate rotor having one end in said flow chamber with the other end extending from said housing,

(0) a plurality of distributor ducts in said rotor and extending longitudinally thereof, said distributor ducts being spaced circumferentially in the rotor,

(d) means operatively connected to the rotor for rotating same on its longitudinal axis,

(2) said rotor having an end face in said flow chamber with each duct opening from said rotor end face,

(1) a valve member axially rotatable relative to said rotor and having a face engaging said rotor end face, said valve member having at least one through port registrable with the respective duct openings,

(g) means in the flow chamber and engaging a portion of said valve member to close said port during a portion of the rotation of the valve member,

(h) a ring gear connected to said valve member and rotating therewith,

(i) a pinion gear rotatably mounted on said rotor and meshing with said ring gear,

(I) a gear segment on said housing and meshing with said pinion gear as said pinion gear moves thereby in response to rotation of the rotor to effect rotation of the pinion gear and valve member, said gear segment being of a length that the rotation of the valve member relative to the rotor in response to the meshing of the pinion gear and gear segment moves the valve member and the through port therein from registry with one duct to registry with another,

(k) and means on the housing retaining the pinion gear against relative rotation on the rotor.

3. A spray apparatus for dishwashing machines comprising,

(a) a housing having a flow chamber therein adapted to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure for delivery of liquid thereto,

(b) an elongate rotor having one end rotatably supported in said housing and extending into said flow chamber with the other end extending from said housing,

(c) a plurality of distributor ducts in said rotor and extending longitudinally thereof, said distributor 55 ducts being equally spaced radially and circumferentially in the rotor,

(d) means operatively connected to the rotor for rotating same on its longitudinal axis,

(e) said rotor having an end face in said flow chamber with each duct opening from said rotor end face,

(f) a valve member axially rotatable relative to said rotor and having a face engaging said rotor end face, said valve member having at least one through port registrable with the respective duct openings,

(g) a valve plate stationary in the flow chamber and engaging a portion of said valve member whereby liquid from the flow chamber flows through said through port only when said port is in an area of said valve member not engaged by said valve plate,

(11) a ring gear connected to said valve member and rotating therewith,

(i) a pinion gear rotatably mounted on said rotor and meshing with said ring gear,

(j) a gear segment on said housing and meshing with said pinion gear as said pinion gear moves thereby in response to rotation of the rotor to efiect rotation of the pinion gear and valve member, said gear segment being of a length that the rotation of the valve member relative to the rotor in response to the meshing of the pinion gear and gear segment moves the valve member and the through port therein from registry with one duct to registry with another,

(k) a track extending circumferentially from adjacent one end of the segment to the other end thereof, (1) and means on said pinion gear engaging said track to retain said pinion and thereby the valve member from rotation relative to the rotor whereby the port is maintained in registry with the same duct during the portion of the rotor rotation in which said pinion gear means is engaging said track.

4. A spray apparatus for dishwashing machines comprising,

(a) a housing having a flow chamber therein adapted to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure for delivery of liquid thereto,

(1)) an elongate rotor having one end rotatably supported in said housing and extending into said flow chamber with the other end extending from said housing,

(0) a plurality of distributor ducts in said rotor and extending longitudinally thereof, said distributor ducts being equally spaced radially and circumferentially in the rotor,

(d) means operatively connected to the rotor for rotating same on its longitudinal axis,

(e) a spray jet for each duct and having flow communication with said respective duct, said spray jets being equally spaced along the length of said rotor whereby the spray's from the ducts move in ditferent paths spaced one from another,

(f) said rotor having an end face in said flow chamber with each duct opening from said rotor end face,

(g) a valve member axially rotatable relative to said rotor and having a face engaging said rotor end face, said valve member having at least one through port registrable with the respective duct openings,

(h) a valve plate stationary in the flow chamber and engaging a portion of said valve member whereby liquid from the flow chamber flows through said through port only When said port is in an area of said valve member not engaged by said valve plate,

(i) a ring gear connected to said valve member and rotating therewith,

(j) a pinion gear rotatably mounted on said rotor and meshing with said ring gear,

(k) a gear segment on said housing and meshing with said pinion gear as said pinion gear moves thereby in response to rotation of the rotor to ettect rotation (m) and a slide surface on said pinion gear engaging 10 2,992,779

said track to retain said pinion and thereby the valve member from rotation relative to the rotor whereby the port is maintained in registry with the same duct during the portion or the rotor rotation in which said slide surface is engaging said track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS James et a1. July 18, 1961 

1. A SPRAY APPARATUS FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES COMPRISING, (A) A HOUSING HAVING A CHAMBER THEREIN ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SOURCE FOR SUPPLYING WASHING LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE THERETO, (B) AN ELONGATE ROTOR HAVING ONE END IN SAID CHAMBER WITH THE OTHER END EXTENDING FROM SAID HOUSING, (C) A PLURALITY OF DISTRIBUTOR DUCTS IN SAID ROTOR EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID DISTRIBUTOR DUCTS BEING SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY IN THE ROTOR AND EACH HAVING AN OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHAMBER. HAVING AN OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHAMBER, (D) MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE ROTOR FOR ROTATING SAME ON ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS. (E) A VALVE MEMBER IN SAID CHAMBER AND AXIALLY ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID ROTOR AND OPERATIVE TO CLOSE THE DUCT OPENINGS, SAID VALVE MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE THROUGH PORT REGISTRABLE WITH THE RESPECTIVE DUCT OPENING FOR FLOW OF LIQUID FROM THE CHAMBER TO THE RESPECTIVE DUCT, (F) A RING GEAR CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEMBER AND ROTATING THEREWITH, (G) A PINION GEAR ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROTOR AND MESHING WITH SAID RING GEAR, (H) MEANS ON THE HOUSING ENGAGED WITH SAID PINION GEAR DURING ONE PORTION OF THE ROTATION OF THE ROTOR TO HOLD SAID PINION GEAR AGAINST RELATIVE ROTATIVE MOVEMENT ON SAID ROTOR AND THEREBY RETAIN THE VALVE MEMBER AGAINST ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID ROTOR, (I) AND A GEAR SEGMENT ON SAID HOUSING AND MESHING WITH SAID PINION GEAR AS SAID PINION GEAR MOVES THEREBY DURING ANOTHER PORTION OF THE ROTATION OF THE ROTOR TO EFFECT RELATIVE ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE PINION GEAR ON THE ROTOR AND THEREBY RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE VALVE MEMBER AND SAID ROTOR TO ADVANCE THE PORT IN THE VALVE MEMBER FROM REGISTRY WITH ONE DUCT TO REGISTRY WITH ANOTHER. 